IRVING, Texas – Conference USA's commitment to excellence, both on the tennis courts and in the classroom, continues to show as 12 men's and women's tennis student-athletes have been named to the 2017 InTouch Credit Union C-USA Tennis All-Academic Team. Honorees are voted on by the league’s sports information directors for tennis and must hold a minimum 3.2 GPA and have competed in at least 75 percent of their team's scheduled matches.
Complete Release [PDF]
2017 InTouch Credit Union C-USA Women's Tennis All-Academic Team
*Victoria Pahlett, Charlotte, Sr., Växjö, Sweden | 3.94 in International Business
Maryna Veksler, FIU, So., Kiev, Ukraine | 3.80 GPA in Computer Engineering
**Bianca Biglione, Florida Atlantic, Sr., Panama City Beach, Florida | 4.0 GPA in Biology & Psychology
*Derya Turhan, Marshall, Sr., Bad Salzuflen, Germany | 3.79 GPA in Psychology Graduate Program
Lindsey Hodge, Rice, Jr., Roswell, Georgia | 3.97 GPA in Sport Management with a Business Minor
*Katherine Ip, Rice, Sr., Hong Kong | 3.99 GPA in Kinesiology
2017 InTouch Credit Union C-USA Men's Tennis All-Academic Team
Alejandro Garcia Moreno, Charlotte, So., Avila, Spain | 3.93 GPA in Business
Ignacio Jimenez, Florida Atlantic, Jr., Burgos, Spain | 3.86 GPA in Ocean Engineering
Luis Morillo Diaz, Middle Tennessee, So., Santiago, Spain | 3.95 GPA in Mechatronics Engineering
*Miguel Negre Fernandez, Middle Tennessee, Jr., Palma de Mallorca, Spain | 3.88 GPA in Mechatronics Engineering
Adam Moundir, Old Dominion, Jr., Luzern, Switzerland | 3.41 GPA in Management & Marketing
*Tommy Bennett, Rice, Sr., Lewes, England | 3.67 GPA in Economics
*Repeat Honoree
The women's side saw four repeat honorees from a year ago, including three-time honoree Bianca Biglione of Florida Atlantic. Biglione maintains a flawless 4.0 as a biology and psychology double major. The two-time All-Conference performer is member of the FAU’s President’s List, Dean’s List and 3.0 Club.
Marshall senior Derya Turhan and Rice senior Katherine Ip were each named to the squad for the second consecutive season. Turhan was named the 2016 C-USA Player of the Year and the ITA Atlantic Region Most Improved Player a year ago. She completed her undergraduate degree in two and a half years and is currently working on her master’s in psychology. Ip is a 2016 All-American who is a four-time selection to the Rice University President’s Honor Roll with a 3.99 GPA in kinesiology. Charlotte’s Victoria Pahlett was a member of the All-Academic Team in 2015 and earned the nod again this year. The senior from Sweden has a 3.94 GPA in international business, including four semesters as a “Perfect Niner” with a 4.0 GPA.
Rice junior Lindsey Hodge, who maintains a 3.97 GPA in sport management with a business minor, joins teammate Ip on the all-academic squad. Hodge currently sits at No. 110 in the most recent ITA rankings. FIU sophomore Maryna Veksler rounds out the All-Academic Team in her first year to be eligible with a 3.8 GPA in computer engineering. Veksler earned All-Conference USA first-team honors as a freshman with the Panthers.
There were two repeat selections on the men’s side as Rice senior Tommy Bennett and Middle Tennessee junior Miguel Negre Fernandez earned the back-to-back honor. Bennett maintains a 3.672 GPA in economics while playing the first two positions in the Owls’ singles lineup. Additionally, he and teammate David Warren have ranked as high as No. 8 nationally and currently stand at No. 63 in the most recent ITA rankings. Negre Fernandez has participated is every match for the Blue Raiders while keeping up a 3.88 GPA. MT teammate Luis Morillo Diaz was also selected to the all-academic squad with his 3.95 GPA. Both Blue Raiders hail from Spain and are mechatronics majors.
Juniors Adam Moundir of Old Dominion and Ignacio Jiminez of Florida Atlantic are also first-time honorees to the all-academic squad. Moundir is Conference USA’s highest-ranked men’s student-athlete, sitting at No. 50 in the most current ITA rankings. He has also led the Monarchs to a season-high national ranking of No. 25. A two-time member of the All-Conference USA honor roll from Luzern, Switzerland, Moundir is a management and marketing double major. Jiminez is 12-6 at the No. 1 singles slot for the Owls and maintains a 3.86 GPA in ocean engineering. He is originally from Burgos, Spain.
Charlotte’s Alejandro Garcia Moreno rounds out the InTouch Credit Union All-Academic Men’s Tennis Team. Originally from Avila, Spain, the sophomore has played in every match at No. 3 or No. 4 singles and is also part of the 49ers’ top doubles tandem.
The 2017 C-USA Women's Championship begins Thursday, April 20, in Denton, Texas, while the C-USA Men's Championship will begin on Friday, April 21, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. More information is available on ConferenceUSA.com.